Circuitous conduit for refrigerators



April 10, 1934. e. E. DENMAN CIRCUITOUS CONDUIT FOR REFRIGEHATORS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '17. 1930 IN VEN TOR. swma E- ps/w'rmv.

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Patented Apr. 10, 1934 entire STATES PATENT GFFICE CIRCUITOUS CONDUITFOR REFRIGERATORS 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in circuitous conduits forrefrigerators, and it consists of the combinations, constructions andarrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a cir cuitous conduit for use inconnection with a refrigerator system in which a relatively high coolingsurface is disposed between the medium to be cooled and the refrigerantpassing through the conduit. It is proposed in the present invention toprovide the maximum cooling surface per unit area of space.

More specifically, I propose to arrange a series of scaled shellsthrough which a refrigerant is successively passed, these shells havingcirculating tubes extending therethrough which are exposed to therefrigerant, whereby mediums in the circulating tubes may be cooled.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described whichis simple in construction, durable and emcient for the purpose intended.

A further object is to simplify the various structural features of myinvention in such a manner that the same may be cheaply manufactured,easily assembled, and readily prepared for use.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds,and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appendedto claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this application, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a direct expansion or dry system ofrefrigeration having my invention embodied therein,

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the sealed shells which I employ,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along line 40. 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure l is a fragmentary view of a refrigerator showing the principleof my invention applied to freezing trays,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along line as. 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure '7 illustrates my principle as applied to a flooded system ofrefrigeration.

In carrying my invention into practice, I make use of a direct expansionor dry system of refrigeration, which in its structural featurescomprises a compressor 1 of conventional design for compressing arefrigerant and for delivering the same under pressure through a pipe 2to a condenser 3, from which it is subsequently conveyed by a pipe 4 toa receiver 5 in liquid state.

The refrigerant employed in such a system depends largely upon the useto which the refrigeration is put, and may, for example, be sulphur G0dioxide or methyl chloride. The refrigerant passes from the condenser toan expansion valve 6 over the liquid line 7. The expansion valve ispreferably arranged exteriorly of a brine tank 8 having a circuitousconduit 9 disposed therein, the latter communicating at the liquid inletend 10 with a short pipe 11 extending from the expansion valve.

As the refrigerant passes upwardly through the circuitous conduit, itexpands and changes into a Zt vapor or gaseous state. it is, of course,understood that the expansion of a gas decreases the temperature of thesurrounding mediums. A. solution of calcium chloride is ofen used in abrine tank, since the solution. will maintain its cold properties forseveral hours after the compressor ceases to operate.

The vaporized refrigerant is returned to the compressor 1 after it hasserved. its purpose by a pipe 12, whereupon the compressor will againforce the refrigerant through the system on another cycle. Thecompressor may be driven by means of a motor 13 that is controlled by anelectric thermostatic device indicated at 14.

The parts thus far described, apart from the g5 condenser 3 and thecircuitous conduit 9, form no part of the present invention, exceptinsofar as they cooperate with the parts now to be described.

The circuitous conduit 9 consists of a series of sealed shells 15 havingbody portions 16 and end walls 17. While Figures 2 and 3 show theseshells as having a cylindrical cross-section, it is understood that anyother desired shape may be employed.

The shells 15 are arranged one above the other in the manner shown inFigures 1 and 3, and are held in spaced relation by means of spacers 18which are preferably welded to the shells. The chamber portions 19 ofthe shells are intercon- 100 nected by pipes 20 that have their endswelded or otherwise secured to the walls 1'? so as to communicate withthe chambers 19.

Circulating tubes 21 extend between opposite end walls 1'7 of each ofthe shells for permitting 1 5 a medium to pass therethrough. When thecircuitous conduit is submerged in a brine solution, the brine will becooled as the refrigerant passes through the chambers 19. It should beparticularly noted that the refrigerant enters the lower 1'10 right-handpipe 20 in Figure 3 in a liquid state and is caused to pass entirelyacross the shell before finding an exit to the next shell thereabove. Asthe refrigerant so travels, it will contact with the outer surfaces ofthe circulating tubes 21. The arrangement of the tubes 21 in he mannershown in Figure 2 will provide a relatively large cooling surfacebetween the refrigerant and the brine solution.

In adapting my circuitous conduit to certain types of refrigerators inwhich the brine solution is omitted, the tubes 21 will providepassageways through which air may be circulated.

The condenser 3 is constructed in the same manner as the circuitousconduit 9, and the free passage of air through its circulating tubeswill produce an eflicient condenser.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The refrigerant leaves thereceiver 5 under pressure and in a liquid state. As the refrigerantpasses successively through the shells 15, the brine solution, or inmany cases the air in the refrigerator proper is cooled. The liquidchanges into a gaseous state as it passes along the system, and isfinally compressed at 1, and is again started on the cycle.

Figure 7 shows the well known flood system of refrigeration in which theliquid refrigerant entering into the circuitous coil 21 is controlled.by a float valve mechanism 22 that is surrounded by a suitable housing23 so as to retain a certain amount of the refrigerant therein.

A. pipe 24 extends vertically through several of the shells l5, and thechamber 19 of each of the shells is placed in communication with thepipe 24 by perforations 25. A second perforated pipe 26 is arranged onthe opposite side of: the shells for providing a vapor outlet for therefrigerant. The construction of the shells and their attendantcirculating tubes 21 is exactly the same as in the first form described.The refrigerant medium in this case must also pass from one side of theshell to the opposite side thereof. The brine or air passing through thecirculating tubes is thus effectively cooled.

My principle may also be applied for freezing water into cubes of ice.Figure 4 shows a portion of a refrigerator 2? having a cavity 28 thereinfor receiving a plurality of U-shapecl cooling members 29. A suitablerack 30 for holding freezing trays 31 between the projecting portions 32and 33 of the U is shown in Figure 4 in upright position.

The refrigerant enters the lowermost member 29 at one end of the U atpipe 35 and passes to the other end 36 in the manner shown in Figure 5.The refrigerant then enters the adjacent cooling member thereabovethrough an exit pipe 37. The pipes 35 and 3'7 respectively correspondwith the pipes 7 and 12 in Figure 1.

Circulating tubes 38 are also provided in this modified form throughwhich air in the refrigerator circulates. As the temperature in thecavity 28 drops below the freezing temperature, Water in the trays 31 ischanged into ice. In this form, also, the refrigerant must pass aroundall of the circulating tubes 38 as it passes through the circuitousconduit.

The underlying principle upon which the various forms of the circuitousconduit is based is the same throughout the several forms, and also inthe condenser 3.

Vt ile I have shown only the preferred forms of my vention, it is to beunderstood that the same is susceptible of various changes, and Ireserve the right to employ such changes as may come within the scope ofthe claims hereto annexed.

I claim:

1. A circuitous conduit for a refrigerator comprising a plurality ofshells arranged in spaced relation, circulating tubes extendingvertically through the shells, passageways interconnecting adjacentshells for introducing a refrigerant into one of each shell and fordischarging the refrigerant from the opposite side of the shell, wherebythe entire exterior surface of the shells and the interior of thecirculat ng tubes are ex posed to the surrounding medium.

2. A circuitous conduit for a refrigerator corn- 1 i prising a pluralityof shells, circulating tubes extending therethrough for providing thepassageway for a medium, a pair of conduits extending through the shellsin spaced relation and having perforated portions placing each of theconduits in communication with the interior of the shells, and means forintroducing a refrigerant into one of the perforated conduits andwithdrawing it from the other.

GEORGE E. DENMAN.

